A CCTV camera overlooking one of the last known locations of a missing student who was later found dead, is not working.

Worcester City Council confirmed that the camera – monitored by police – on Sabrina Bridge has not worked for a year, sparking calls for investment in the city’s CCTV network.

Tom Jones, an 18-year-old University of Worcester student, was found in the River Severn after a week-long search last week.

Funding for CCTV in the city is partly funded by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.

City councillor Lynn Denham said: “Some of the [city’s] CCTV cameras are not being fixed.

“I hope that the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner will now recognise the importance of CCTV and that considerable investment is required to have a state-of-the-art network in place.”

Cllr Denham said the CCTV on Sabrina Bridge was not one of the city’s ‘priority cameras’, which are first in line when it comes to funding.

Ian Jones, Tom’s dad, told the BBC that the camera on Sabrina Bridge could have been ‘vital’ to understanding his son’s last movements.

An online petition calling for the installation of CCTV cameras along the riverside has been signed by more than 17,000 people.

However, Mr Campion said: "I announced last year, up to £1million for communities, including Worcester, to invest in and modernise their CCTV.

"CCTV in Worcester is owned and operated by the city council and they are still able to make use of their unused allocation from this fund, as well as their own resources.

"The targeting of this investment is rightly driven by those who manage the systems locally who can ensure these are placed to the best effect for the local community.”

A Worcester City Council spokesman added: “Our thoughts are with Thomas Jones’s family at this very sad time. The council has a network of CCTV cameras across Worcester.

The Sabrina Bridge camera has been out of action for 12 months. We regret that it was not working on the night that Thomas Jones went missing.

“Many of the CCTV cameras operated by the city council are now 10-years-old or more and the technology is ageing.

“The city council’s CCTV network is one of several in the city, so the police have many sources they can use to find footage when an incident or crime has taken place.”

Tom’s parents Ian and Vicki Jones previously worked with police to retrace his movements on Wednesday, September 19.

Police say he crossed Sabrina Bridge before walking along the path at the top of the Hylton Road flood defences in the direction of Hallow.

His body was recovered from the River Severn, in Worcester, on September 28.